What is the Mining Industry
The mining industry encompasses the exploration, extraction, and processing of mineral resources (such as coal, petroleum, metals, etc.) to meet energy, industrial material, and infrastructure development demands.
Mining involves the extraction of naturally occurring solid (e.g., coal and minerals), liquid (e.g., crude oil), or gaseous (e.g., natural gas) minerals. This includes underground or open-pit mining, mine operation, and all ancillary processing activities typically conducted at or near the mine site – such as crushing, grinding, beneficiation, and treatment – aimed at preparing raw materials. It also covers essential processing for marketable products. Activities like water collection/purification/distribution, geological surveying, and construction engineering are excluded.
Industry Classification (Based on GB/T4754-2017)
The mining sector is classified as follows:
• Coal Mining and Washing: Extraction and processing of coal resources.
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction: Onshore and offshore extraction of crude oil and natural gas.
• Ferrous/Non-ferrous Metal Ore Mining: Extraction of ferrous metals (iron, manganese, chromium) and non-ferrous metals (copper, lead, zinc, etc.).
• Non-metallic Mining: Extraction of non-metallic minerals like sand, gravel, and chemical ores.
• Mining Support Activities: Provision of technical support and logistical services for extraction.
• Other Mining: Covers specialized resources like geothermal energy and mineral water.
Industry Chain Structure
The mining value chain includes exploration, extraction, processing (e.g., ore dressing, smelting), and resource recycling, providing foundational raw materials for industrial systems.
Operational Challenges in Mining
Mining is a core application area for valves and pipelines, where harsh operational conditions directly impact pipeline selection, design, and lifespan. Below is a systematic analysis of mining challenges for pipelines across four dimensions, with supporting data and examples:
I. Media Characteristics: High Hardness, Severe Abrasion, Multi-phase Flow
• Material Hardness & Particle Size:
Ore Types: Metal ores (Fe, Cu, Pb-Zn) typically have high Mohs hardness (6-8). Non-metallic ores (phosphate, fluorite) are softer (Mohs 3-5), but tailings often contain high-hardness impurities like quartz.
Particle Distribution: Crushed ore: 10-50 mm; Tailings: 0.1-5 mm; Ground ore: <0.074 mm (powder conveying).
Impact Effect: Large particles (>20 mm) cause "gouging wear" in high-velocity flows; small particles (<5 mm) cause "grooving wear." Combined, they drastically shorten pipeline life.
• Conveyed Media State:
Solid-Liquid Flow (Slurry): In wet processing, slurry solid content reaches 30%-60% (e.g., copper flotation tailings). Liquid carriers (water/chemicals) accelerate particle erosion.
Gas-Solid Flow: In dry processing/dust control, air speeds of 15-30 m/s make fine particles (coal/ore dust) 3-5 times more erosive than in slurry.
Corrosivity: Slurries containing sulfides (e.g., pyrite) form acidic media (pH <4) in humid conditions, accelerating metal corrosion.
II. Operating Environment: Extreme Conditions & Complexities
• Temperature & Pressure:
Temperature Fluctuation: Underground: 5-35°C; Grinding plants (mechanical heat): >50°C; Hydrothermal deposits: >80°C.
Pressure Impact: Pump heads of 100-300 m (1-3 MPa pressure). Sudden pressure changes at bends intensify particle impact.
•Mechanical Vibration & Installation Constraints:
Vibration Sources: Crushers, ball mills (10-50 Hz frequency, 2-10 mm amplitude) loosen pipe connections and cause fatigue cracks at weld edges.
Space Limitations: Narrow underground tunnels necessitate tight bends (radius R ≤ 5D), where wear rates are 5-8 times higher than straight sections.
III. Equipment Conditions: High Load & Continuous Operation
• Conveyance System Parameters:
Flow Velocity & Rate: Coarse ore: 3-5 m/s; Fine slurry: 1.5-3 m/s. Single line capacity: 1000-3000 m³/h, demanding high pressure resistance and wear resistance.
Conveyance Distance: Open-pit: several km; Underground: 500-2000 m. Long distances cause cumulative wear.
• Start-Stop Cycles & Maintenance:
Frequent Cycling: Process adjustments based on ore grade lead to 10-20 daily start/stops. Transient pressure surges (water hammer) reach 2-3 times working pressure.
Short Maintenance Windows: High production continuity limits annual shutdowns to <15 days, requiring rapid pipeline replacement.
Main Applications market:
Main Involved Products:
Key Valve Types Used in Mining
Common mining valves include Knife Gate Valves, Abrasion-Resistant Ball Valves, Mine Water Distribution Gate Valves, and Mining High-Pressure Reducing Valves.
Knife Gate Valve:
Application: Mines, power plants, food processing.
Pressure: 1.6-6.4 MPa.
Temperature: 0-100°C (some models >100°C).
Function: Handling media with solid particles like slag and ore sand.
Abrasion-Resistant Ball Valve:
Standards: GB12237, API 6D.
Size: DN50-1400 mm.
Pressure: Up to PN160 (Class 2500).
Connection/Actuation: Flanged; Manual/Pneumatic/Electric.
Use: High-pressure, high-abrasion pipelines.
Mine Water Distribution Gate Valve:
Application: Underground mine water systems.
Pressure: ≤1 MPa.
Temperature: Water ≤80°C.
Components: Control console, connecting rod, stem.
Function: Automated water distribution in sumps and process water discharge.
Mining High-Pressure Reducing Valve:
Function: Regulates high-pressure water to stable levels (e.g., 1.0-2.0 MPa).
Pressure Rating: Up to 25 MPa.
Use: Mine water supply systems; reduces equipment shock, extends lifespan with dynamic pressure control.
Common Valve Materials in Mining
Material selection depends on conditions (media, temperature, pressure):
• Carbon Steel (e.g., WCB): Standard for ambient temp/pressure.
• Stainless Steel (e.g., 304, 316): High corrosion resistance; ideal for corrosive/particulate fluids.
• Cast Iron (e.g., Gray Iron, Ductile Iron): Good wear resistance for medium/low pressure.
• Copper Alloys (e.g., Bronze, Brass): Suitable for low temps or corrosive media.
• Special Alloys (e.g., Hastelloy, Titanium): For extreme conditions (high temp, strong acids/alkalis).
Material Selection Principles:
• Abrasion Resistance: Choose ductile iron or hardened steel for high-hardness/particulate media.
• Corrosion Resistance: Prefer stainless steel or Hastelloy for acidic/alkaline media.
• High/Low Temperature: Use high-temp alloys (e.g., 1Cr18Ni9Ti) >350°C; low-temp steel (e.g., 0Cr18Ni9) ≤ -196°C.
Mining Valve Expert - NSW
Newsway Valve CO.,LTD is professional industrial valves manufacturer and exporter more than 20 years history, and has 20,000㎡ of covered workshop. We focuses on the design, develop, manufacture. Newsway Valve are strictly according to the international quality system standard ISO9001 for production. Our products holds a comprehensive computer-aided design systems and sophisticated computer numerically equipment in production, processing and testing. We have our own inspection team to control the valves quality strictly, our inspection team inspect the valve from the first casting to final package, they monitor every process in production. And we also cooperate with the third inspection department to help our customers to supervise the valves before shipment.
Mining Industry Project Portfolio
Parts of Reference list of Mining Projects
Project 1:
End user: Anshan Iron and Steel Group Mining Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Project name: Purchase of valve operation box for Gongchangling underground iron ore smart mine construction project
Date: April 28, 2025
Valve type: metal-sealed ball valve, slurry valve
Project 2:
End user: Beijing Huaxia Jianlong Mining Technology Co., Ltd.
Project name: Smart mine project
Date: May 2024
Valve type: slag discharge valve, knife gate valve, ball valve
Project 3:
End user: Inner Mongolia Xingye Group
Project name: Yinman Mining Tailings
Date:: Time: 2024.03
Valve type: wear-resistant slurry valve
Main Applications market:
Main Involved Products: